TOP NEWS: Lawmakers are urging the FTC to investigate the source of ads attacking the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau. [ABC NEWS] Sunlight’s Libby Watson talked to ABC about the difficulty of identifying where the ads came from.

“I do this full time and I found it really hard to find out who these people are,” Watson said. “The public –- people with actual jobs — would have no hope finding out who these people are. They’re attacking the CFPB for not being accountable. The problem is these people aren’t accountable to anybody, because we don’t even know who they are.”

VOTE 2.1:Vote.org is trying to make it easier to register to vote. Whether it “revolutionizes elections” in the United States remains to be seen. When asked how their service differs from Vote.usa.gov, Vote.org responded that they “build streamlined tools and aggregate data,” while the Feds redirect citizens to state websites to help themselves. [Mic]

WHAT ARE YOU READING? OpenTheGov publishes a daily digest of news highlights of interest to the open government community. Please let us know what you read regularly, along with any tips, analyses or fresh ideas.

The White House released a new report on the intersection of big data and civil rights. Here’s the cautionary part:

“The algorithmic systems that turn data into information are not infallible—they rely on the imperfect inputs, logic, probability, and people who design them. Predictors of success can become barriers to entry; careful marketing can be rooted in stereotype. Without deliberate care, these innovations can easily hardwire discrimination, reinforce bias, and mask opportunity.” [White House blog]

State and Local

An investigation by USA TODAY found that “social welfare” groups created as 501(c)(4) nonprofits are increasingly influencing public policy at the state level, often without disclosure of funders. [USA TODAY]

The Flint water crisis could push Michigan to adopt public records reforms. [MLive]

A judge fined Hennepin County, Minnesota, for violating the state’s data practices law, after its sluggish response to a public records request for contracts and correspondence around biometric tracking technology, and ordered it to make millions of email messages publicly accessible by June 1. [Star Tribune]

New Hampshire’s House will consider standards for police body cameras. [Statescoop]

Eric Gordon argues that “when government officials ponder the definition of 21st century citizenship, marked by the promise of increasingly usable services through good technology design, they should avoid confusing the satisfied customer with the happy citizen.” [Governing]

Events

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We want to find and share the most important stories about open government around the world from the past 24 hours here. To do that, we’ll need YOUR help. Please send your tips and feedback at ahoward@sunlightfoundation.com. If you would like suggest an event, email us by 7 am on the Monday prior to the event.